Interview with Nora Sandigo

              Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection
Interview with Nora Sandigo
Miami, FL, February 22, 2016
Interview asm0344000017
Interviewed by: Julio Estorino
Recorded by: Javier Carrion
Outline by Reymond Sanchez
Length 00:55:47
Nora Sandigo is a community activist, co-founder of Fraternidad Nicaragüense (1989), and current director of American Fraternity. She promotes pro-amnesty campaigns, lobbies for immigration reform at the U.S. Congress, State Department, and the White House at the federal level, and at different government entities at state and local levels. She was instrumental in the approval of the Nacara Law, which benefited hundreds of thousands of Central Americans and Cubans in the United States. She is the foster mother and legal representative of about 1,000 Central American children separated from their parents who were deported back to their countries of origin. In 2007, she filed a suit against President George W. Bush representing those children. The recipient of many humanitarian awards, she was one of the People´s "Heroes of People Magazine."
This interview forms part of the Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections.
This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor.
Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu.
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INTERVIEW OUTLINE
- 00:00:13: Introduction
- 00:00:25: Where are you from and how as your infancy?
- 00:00:50: How was your family? What did they do?
- 00:01:50: Did you study in Nicaragua and how and when did you leave the United States?
- 00:03:01: Did you leave alone or did some of your family come with you?
- 00:04:07: How long were you in Venezuela?
- 00:04:30: When did you get to the U.S?
- 00:07:12: How was adapting to all of these cultures? I assume it was very difficult.
- 00:09:18: You came to the United States in 1988. How was the situation of Nicaraguans that you encountered here?
- 00:10:52: Coming here is what led you to become involved in activist work?
- 00:11:40: How did your organization start?
- 00:13:30: What does your organization specialize in and what are your services?
- 00:14:52: How did you get into contact with big politicians?
- 00:18:45: While all of this was occurring, what response did you get from Nicaraguans here in Miami?
- 00:20:46: What can you tell me about the NACARA law?
- 00:23:12: What does the law actually do?
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- 00:24:09: In the last few years, many issues regarding immigrants have gained prominence especially regarding deportations. Talk to me about situations where kids have their parents deported.
- 00:27:03: Are there a lot of kids that have had both parents been deported and how exactly does that work?
- 00:32:29: This law lawsuit you placed got to the Supreme Court right?
- 00:33:30: How has the development of Hispanic communities been in the United States in your opinion?
- 00:35:40: You told me that you have managed to be in charge of around 800 kids. As in you are their legal guardian somehow. Explain that to me.
- 00:37:00: All of the things you do in your organization seems to costs a lot of money? How are you guys funded so well?
- 00:41:09: Is there a religious motivation to what you do?
- 00:46:15: Now that you see a seemingly anti-immigrant sentiment today, especially in these elections, how do you fell about this?
- 00:49:11: For you, what would be a fair immigration reform?
- 00:50:53: How does it feel to be so widely recognized for being an activist?
- 00:53:09: How has all your activist work affected your personal life at all?
- 00:54:30: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
- 00:55:47: END OF INTERVIEW